With its charming, laid-back atmosphere, variety of attractions and diverse history, Winton is undoubtedly a must-visit destination.
Town folk sitting around the bar, open to conversations with strangers. Stories shared about the history and characters that roamed the streets, old and new, and a community where everyone knew your name.
It was all here in Winton, except for the horses tied up outside the pubs. There’s not a pub on every corner, but there are four pubs spread out about the town serving its community of only 2,000. The Tattersalls Hotel was the pub on the corner where we sat with new friends John and Suzie on the pavement, under the stilted veranda above us.
On the drive into Winton from Mount Isa, we stopped in at the Walkabout Creek Hotel for a cold beer – the place where a thirsty Paul Hogan, aka Crocodile Dundee, drank.
Winton is the place where Banjo Paterson wrote and first performed Australia’s unofficial National Anthem, Waltzing Matilda and to the great mystery was run out of town three weeks later.
Our new friend, Suzie told us parts of the story over dinner. Her great Aunt, Sara was engaged to Banjo for eight years and Suzie is making a documentary on the story herself. You can learn all about the history of the area at the Waltzing Matilda Centre – the only attraction in the world dedicated to a song.